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Dual-career couples seeking positions at the same institution can face concerns over nepotism in leadership if one takes on a supervisory role, writes Gene Fant, vice president for academic administration at Union University, in Jackson, Tenn. Many schools have policies to prevent such situations, but couples should be up-front about their aspirations when applying for jobs, Fant notes in this blog post. "At the very least, a candidate should be clear about the need for a second position early on in the process," he advises.

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Academics in marriages or partnerships must work together and remain flexible to advance their careers, journalist Elisabeth Pain suggests. Pain offers a list of resources for dual-career couples to help them navigate their careers together.

Treating support staff with disrespect could cost a professor tenure, or a job seeker the position, says Gene Fant, vice president for academic administration at Union University, in Jackson, Tenn. In this blog post, Fant writes that staff -- from secretaries to janitors -- are the "secret" members of any search or tenure committee. "The reality is that many unofficial conversations influence tenure decisions and the hiring process, even when the guidelines do not explicitly cite collegiality or community compatibility as considerations," he writes.

It is important for dual-career couples to share values and interest in each other's work, Monique Valcour, professor of management at EDHEC Business School in France, writes in this blog post. Couples should be ready to make sacrifices and take turns supporting one another in career growth, she advises. "[S]hared goals, mutual understanding, and a commitment to helping each other are powerful resources that help dual-career couples work through career and life challenges and changes," Valcour writes.

Giving advance notice when resigning a position can give an institution the time it needs to find a replacement, Gene Fant, vice president for academic administration at Union University, in Jackson, Tenn., writes in this blog post. However, last-minute resignations should be handled graciously to prevent hard feelings for all involved, Fant notes.

Being an internal candidate for a job can be risky, says Gene Fant, vice president for academic administration at Union University, in Jackson, Tenn. Often, institutions want internal candidates to fill openings, but sometimes they are passed over, which can cause hurt feelings, Fant writes in this blog post. "I now warn potential internal candidates not to get too excited and to be careful not to signal a sense that they are a 'lock' or that someone on the inside has promised them the position," Fant advises.